Myanmar Media Lawyers’ Network Holds First General Assembly

On 1 April 2015, the Myanmar Media Lawyers’ Network (MMLN) held its very first General Assembly, with the support of the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) and International Media Support (IMS). The members formally adopted the MMLN Constitution and then, pursuant to that Constitution, held an election for 15 members of the Executive Committee. Senior Lawyer U Aung Soe was elected as the first Chair of the MMLN.

“This is a very important step forward in the life of the MMLN,” said CLD Executive Director Toby Mendel. “It can now move forward with institutional development and a more robust programme of activities.”

A meeting of media lawyers in Yangon in July 2014 came to a formal decision to found the MMLN, and work has been ongoing since then to prepare for this first General Assembly, including by preparing a draft Consitution for the organisation. There is a tremendous need in Myanmar for the MMLN given important ongoing media law reform efforts – including a draft broadcasting law currently before parliament – and a growing number of legal cases against the media.

“We are very pleased to be supporting this extremely important initiative,” said Esben Harboe, Programme Manager at IMS. “We look forward to the MMLN playing an ever more signfiicant role in media law developments in the country.”